Above illustration: young inca boy - https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=inca
When the Spaniards arrived in the 1500s they bought with them diseases such as chickenpox that all but wiped out the Incas. But so complete was the Inca integration of the Andes, Montaña, and coast, that even today the entire area retains the mark of Inca culture.
Seven million people still speak Quechua dialects. The ayllus are maintained in the form of comunidades and the Inca culture continues to be manifest in music, agricultural practices, and the character of the people.
So how does Inca culture compare to that of modern society?
When the Spaniards arrived they bought with them the Catholic religion - a religion that worships one god only. This is common in the western world. The Spaniards thought it devil worship to have more than one god and went about extinguishing any references to more than one god. And yet other modern day societies still continue to worship many gods (deities).
Before the Incas came to power, the divisions between husbands and wives in Andean regions was more or less equal, but the mit'a system of labour changed that. When men were called away to become warriors and to do work of the empire, they gained status and became figures of authority.
In today's society we still value men over women (higher wages, better jobs) although we are led to believe that men and women are equal. In effect the pre Incas had a more equal opportunity society. But at least girls and boys in Western society have equal opportunity education !
The ayllu or extended family unit is something that we rarely see in modern day westernised cultures but still thrives in certain cultures.
Much of what we know about the Inca is through word of mouth. Modern society relies on the written word and unfortunately the Inca did not have the benefit of a written language.
Respect for the individual and laws has meant that the barbaric practice of human sacrifice is also no longer practiced and 'sacrifice is probably one of the least favoured thoughts in an all consumer focussed society.
Seven million people still speak Quechua dialects. The ayllus are maintained in the form of comunidades and the Inca culture continues to be manifest in music, agricultural practices, and the character of the people.
So how does Inca culture compare to that of modern society?
When the Spaniards arrived they bought with them the Catholic religion - a religion that worships one god only. This is common in the western world. The Spaniards thought it devil worship to have more than one god and went about extinguishing any references to more than one god. And yet other modern day societies still continue to worship many gods (deities).
Before the Incas came to power, the divisions between husbands and wives in Andean regions was more or less equal, but the mit'a system of labour changed that. When men were called away to become warriors and to do work of the empire, they gained status and became figures of authority.
In today's society we still value men over women (higher wages, better jobs) although we are led to believe that men and women are equal. In effect the pre Incas had a more equal opportunity society. But at least girls and boys in Western society have equal opportunity education !
The ayllu or extended family unit is something that we rarely see in modern day westernised cultures but still thrives in certain cultures.
Much of what we know about the Inca is through word of mouth. Modern society relies on the written word and unfortunately the Inca did not have the benefit of a written language.
Respect for the individual and laws has meant that the barbaric practice of human sacrifice is also no longer practiced and 'sacrifice is probably one of the least favoured thoughts in an all consumer focussed society.